MovieChat Forums > Crumb (1995) Discussion > Charles had Asperger Syndrome

Charles had Asperger Syndrome


Charles obviously had Asperger Syndrome. I have met ~100 adults with Aspergers, and he was a very severe case. Perhaps fewer then 10% of people with Aspergers would be as severe. I also believe Rainman = Autism as Crumb = Asperger's Syndrome, meaning if anyone wants to know what adults with Aspergers look like they should watch Crumb,...or Ghost World or American Splendor. Way better then that abomination that sank without trace...I cant remember it...Oh yea, Mozart and the Whale.

For those that don't know: Asperger's is mild autism. People with Asperger's typically exhibit a lack of social skills, an inability to develop friendships and have one or just few obsessive and focused interests.

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For those that don't know: Asperger's is mild autism. People with Asperger's typically exhibit a lack of social skills, an inability to develop friendships and have one or just few obsessive and focused interests.


I don't mean to sound cynical, but isn't that the description of a typical nerd/geek?

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If you exaggerate the eccentric conspiracy theorist, who publishes books on Phone Masts controlling peoples minds, by 10 = schizophrenia ; Nerd x 10 = Asperger's. Charles committed suicided in 1994, nuff said.

Here is a description of Henry Cavendish (1731–1810) written in 1851 (long before the concept of the Nerd). Cavendish likely had Asperger's, his obsession was science rater then Gilligan's Island.

"He did not love; he did not hate; he did not hope; he did not fear; he did
not worship as others do. He separated himself from his fellow men,
and apparently from God. There was nothing earnest, enthusiastic,
heroic, or chivalrous in his nature, and as little was there anything
mean, grovelling, or ignoble. He was almost passionless. All that
needed for its apprehension more than the pure intellect, or required
the exercise of fancy, imagination, affection, or faith, was distasteful to
Cavendish. An intellectual head thinking, a pair of wonderfully acute
eyes observing, and a pair of very skilful hands experimenting or
recording, are all that I realise in reading his memorials. His brain
seems to have been but a calculating engine; his eyes inlets of vision,
not fountains of tears; his hands instruments of manipulation which
never trembled with emotion, or were clasped together in adoration,
thanksgiving, or despair; his heart only an anatomical organ, necessary
for the circulation of the blood. . .

Cavendish did not stand aloof from other men in a proud or supercilious
spirit, refusing to count them his fellows. He felt himself separated
from them by a great gulf, which neither they nor he could
bridge over, and across which it was vain to stretch hands or exchange
greetings. A sense of isolation from his brethren, made him shrink
from their society and avoid their presence, but he did so as one
conscious of an infirmity, not boasting of an excellence. He was like a
deaf mute sitting apart from a circle, whose looks and gestures show
that they are uttering and listening to music and eloquence, in producing
or welcoming which he can be no sharer. Wisely, therefore, he
dwelt apart, and bidding the world farewell, took the self-imposed
vows of a Scientific Anchorite, and, like the Monks of old, shut himself
up within his cell. It was a kingdom sufficient for him, and from its
narrow window he saw as much of the Universe as he cared to see. It
had a throne also, and from it he dispensed royal gifts to his brethren.
He was one of the unthanked benefactors of his race, who was patiently
teaching and serving mankind, whilst they were shrinking from
his coldness, or mocking his peculiarities. . .He was not a Poet, a
Priest, or a Prophet, but only a cold, clear Intelligence, raying down
pure white light, which brightened everything on which it felt, but
warmed nothing—a Star of at least the second, if not of the first
magnitude, in the Intellectual Firmament."

From. Wilson, G. The life of the honorable Henry Cavendish. London: The
Cavendish Society, 1851.

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i have aspergers syndrome. basically, i have trouble figuring out whether people are being sarcastic and what certain expressions that people make mean. therefore, i withdraw myself from public because people take advantage of me and call me stupid.

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Same here. I could never understand if people were being sarcastic or serious to me when I was in high school. I felt like I was stupid as well

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You are.

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Really felt the need to reply to that ten year old comment, did ya?

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I'm not convinced that he is, but I am convinced you are.

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"I don't mean to sound cynical, but isn't that the description of a typical nerd/geek?" The description sounds the same, but a typical nerd/geek would not be diagnosed with mental illness or need medication.

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I don't mean to sound cynical, but isn't that the description of a typical nerd/geek?

Yes, and most of the people we call nerds/geeks in fact have Asperger's. It's been around throughout history, just never really understood exactly what it was. Also not everyone with it is affected to the same degree. Charles seems to have withdrawn from society and given up leading him to "deteriorate." If he had managed to maintain some sort of steady job out in society he probably wouldn't have turned out quite so bad.

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I have Asperger's.

And you know what? I can usually tell when people are being sarcatic and when they're uninterested. I can make eye contact. My psychiatrist, who sees me once every two months or so, diagnosed me. But he knows what he's talking about. . . right?

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Judas. Probably what I have. Are there any treatments or medicines that help?

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[deleted]

<< You forgot they like cats and have compulsive interests. >>

I heard they also drink human blood.

.

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I heard they also drink human blood.



hahahahha

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How would you know Charles had Asperger's syndrome? Are you a doctor? I have it and I'll bet I know more about it that you do.

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My first thought was that they both had Aspergers, both Charles and Robert.

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I might take you more seriously if you could spell the word "than" correctly.

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Seemed more like a Schizoid to me. I'm schizoid myself and that was the first thing I thought when I saw him. Very similar to Aspergers though.

Everybody betray me! I fed up with this wurhld!

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Yes, I'll take five Aspergers to go - all with lettuce and tomato, hold the onions. And give me an Asperger happy meal for the little one...

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